Cover for washing machines and the like



May 1, 1951 c. G. FRANTZ COVER FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 16, 1948 INVENTOR. CLARENCE G. FRANTZ ATTORNEY a cover of this type having improved hook means Another object of the invention is to provide for supporting the cover when not in use. a cover of the above type having a hook element It has been common practice to provide removwhich is relatively inexpensive to manufacture able covers for tubs of. washing machines, parand assemble with the cover. ticularly washing machines of the wringer type, Another object of the invention is to provide a and to afiix a hook to the cover whereby the cover cover of the above type having a hook element OFFICE UNITED er 5 COVERFOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Clarence G. Frantz, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signcr to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing grlilmpany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application December 16, 1948, Serial No. 65,666

3 Claims. (01. 220-85) 1 2 This invention relates to covers for washing and quickly secured to and removed from the machines and the like, and more particularly to cover without the use of tools,

may be supported by a top edge portion of the without any metal parts which might scratch a tub when not in use. The hook is generally 10 tub supporting the cover and having a portion formed of a metal strip bent to U form with one which acts as a spacing and cushioning means leg of the strip abutting the under side of the between the tub and cover.

cover and riveted thereto adjacent the cover edge ther objects of the invention and the invem and the other leg of the U which is adapted to tion itself will become increasingly apparent from engage the top edge portion of the tub is sheathed a consideration of the following description and with rubber or the like. However, the rivet head drawing wherein:

is exposed and it frequently happens that in posi- Figure 1 is a fragmentary bottom perspective tioning the hook on the top edge of the tub, the view of a cover embodying the invention;

tub side walls are scratched, and the same condi- Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tion occurs if the hook is bolted to the tub. cover shown in Fig. 1;

Of course, the hook could be welded to the cover Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of but this requires a subsequent metal finishing the cover shown in Fig. 2; and

operation to provide a cover having a satisfactory Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the manner appearance. All the aforesaid means of attachin which the hook element engages the tub of mg the hooks require tools on theproduction line a washing machine or the like.

and also in the event it is desired to subsequently Referring now to the drawings, I have indicated replace the hook. Further, riveting a metal hook at ifi a conventional cover for the tubp fwinge to the cover is relatively expensive in that the type washing machine. The cover is preferably book must be shaped to U form, one leg of the upwardly dished and provided with a peripheral hook must be perforated, the hook must be riveted rubber seating bead l l. Adjacent the edge of the to the cover, and a protective sheath must be cover a circular hole is formed in a suitable manapplied to the hook. her as by a punching die.

'I have devised a hook for covers of this type A hook element, generally indicated at I2, is

which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages formed of molded rubber and comprises a ring and which eifects a substantial saving in cost. form portion having a peripheral groove formed According to the invention, a circular hole is therein to provide a top flange I3 and a bottom formed in the cover adjacent the cover edge. A flange M. The groove is formed by suitably hook element formed entirely of rubber comprises shaping the mold for the hook element. The a ring which is peripherally grooved to form top term "rubber as used herein is intended to inand bottom flanges and a hook which extends 40 clude any suitable material having the characgenerally at a right angle from the bottom flange. teristics of rubber Whether the material com- To attach the hook element to the cover it is prises natural rubber, synthetic rubber or both. merely necessary to force the top flange through Extending generally at right angles from the the cover hole and permit the ring element to bottom flange M is a hook portion l6 preferably assume its normal shape whereby the flanges having a flat face I1 to minimize any tendency of engage a ring shaped area of the cover bounding the cover to rock when supported by the tub as the hole to detachably secure the element to the illustrated in Fig. 4. The hook portion l6 has a.-

cover. toe i8 and preferably the hook portion increases It is a primary object of the invention to proin cross-sectional area proceeding towards the vide a cover for washing machines or the like ring portion.

having an improved hook element for support- Hole is in the hook element is of sufficient ing the cover when not in use. size to permit distortion of the ring portion of Another object of the invention is to provide the element under manual pressure whereby top a cover of the above type having a hook element flange !3 may be projected through the cover formed entirely of rubber and which can be easily hole and assume its normal shape to overlie a.

ring shaped area of the cover bounding the hole. The bottom flange 14 will then abut a preferably larger ring shaped area of the cover whereby the hook element is firmly and detachably secured to the cover by the flanges. The aforementioned manner of mounting the hook element on the cover .is relatively quick, avoids the use of tools on the assembly line, such as riveting apparatus, and provides a sufficiently firm engagement with the cover to prevent shifting of the hook element from a :properly adjusted position. In the event it is desired to replace the hook element, this can be quickly and easily effected without the use of .tools.

Numerous rubber materials are-available which will permit the ring portion of the element to be deformed under reasonable manual pressure and at the same time prevent any substantial bending of the hook portion 16 due to the weight of the cover, although the bending tendency can be .largely controlled by providing a hook portion of suitable :cross sectional area and shape.

It will'be noted by reference to Fig. .4 that the tub is provided with a radially inwardly extending top flange forming a seating surface for the cover peripheral portion, the cover bead ll being adapted to seat in the groove of this flange. It is obviously desirable that the hook portion l6 be disposed as close to the cover edge as possible consistent with clearing the inner edge of the tub top flange when the cover is in place. In prior practice wherein a metal hook is riveted to the cover, it frequently happened that the .exposed rivet head would scratch the tub when locating the hook to engage the tub flange. It is apparent that this could not occur with my improved hook element.

The cover when supported by the hook will tend to swing towards and engage the tub at its lower portion, and particularly in the case of tubs having slightly sloping rather than vertical side walls, the ring portion of the hook element acts as a cushioning and spacing means for the cover in that the ring portion diametrically opposite the hook can engage the tub side wall.

WVhen'the cover is in place the hole l9 provided .in the ring portion will permit a finger grip on the cover or can receive the hooked end of a conyentional drain hose provided in some instances on washing machines.

I have found that a substantial saving in cost, in addition to the advantages pointed out, can be effected by employing a hook element of the type described compared to a conventional metal hook.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of .construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

:l. The combination with a cover for washing machines and the like having a portion adjacent the cover edge which is provided with a hole and is adapted to be substantially horizontally disposed with the cover in operative position, of a hook element formed entirely of rubber secured to said cover portion, said element comprising a ring form portion having a peripheral groove therein forming top and bottom flanges, a hook portion extending from the bot- ..tom flange and generally .normal thereto, the

ring portion being manually deformable whereby the top flange may be projected through the cover hole permitting a ring form area of said cover portion bounding the hole to be gripped between the flanges, and the bottom flange being of sufiicient radial extent and thickness to serve as a cushioning and spacing means preventing contact between the cover and the machine tub side wall adjacent the hook element when the cover is supported by the hook portion engaging the top edge of the tub.

'2. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the hook portion has a toe at the end thereof, and the hook portion increases in cross sectional area from the toe towards the ring portion.

3. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the hook portion is sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the cover without subs'tantial bending of the hook portion.

CLARENCE G. FRANTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,041,464 Frantz May 19, 1936 2,156,756 Gerhardt May 2, 1939 

